{"id":181906,"date":"2016-08-16T17:38:18","date_gmt":"2016-08-16T16:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veganuary.com\/high-blood-pressure\/"},"modified":"2023-06-27T16:10:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T15:10:18","slug":"high-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veganuary.com\/en-za\/high-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"High Blood Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Can a vegan diet help with high blood pressure? We explain all below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Image Credit: Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Approximately 30 per cent of the UK population have high blood pressure, with diet a key factor. However, many studies show that vegetarians, and vegans in particular, have lower blood pressure than meat-eaters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

what causes high blood pressure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Often, but not always, high blood pressure is a result of our diet and lifestyle. Eating too much saturated fat – the kind found in meat, cheese and many processed foods – raises the cholesterol<\/a> in the blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there is too much cholesterol, it builds up inside the walls of our arteries, making them narrower, and raising the pressure of the blood as it flows through them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other causes include eating too much salt, not exercising, and smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

risks of high blood pressure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

High blood pressure puts extra strain on the blood vessels, heart and other organs including the brain, kidneys and eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persistent high blood pressure can increase the risks of several potentially life-threatening conditions, such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease and vascular dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does research say about high blood pressure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, can a vegan diet help with high blood pressure? Research consistently shows that a diet free from animal products can be hugely beneficial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n